434) CHESS-CLUBS AND CHESS-PLAYERS. 



it a fortunate circumstance that they formed part of the troops des- 

 tined for this service. At the mess it was a never-ending theme ; 

 from morning to night nothing else was talked of; and S., in com- 

 mon with the other officers, was indulging in sanguine expectations 

 of success, when, the very day before starting, the adjutant read a 

 regimental order that Surgeon S., of the regiment, should re- 

 main in camp, in charge of the hospital, and Assistant- Surgeon Tay- 

 lor accompany the forces. 



Now the season had been remarkably healthy ; the sick-list was 

 smaller than usual, and certainly afforded no ground for such a de- 

 parture from the common routine. On inquiry, it turned out that 

 this alteration had taken place by the express order of General W., 

 and Mr. S. immediately posted off to his quarters, surprised at this 

 new proof of dislike and prejudice towards him. The General was 

 in his tent, and, as it happened, playing chess when S. entered. " I 

 have come, sir," said he, " in consequence of an order that I should 



not accompany my regiment to Bh , which, I understand, was 



issued by you." General W. bowed stiffly. " May I ask, sir, the 

 reason of so unusual a proceeding ?" 



" I am not in the habit of giving explanations, sir ; it is my order." 



" I am at a loss, General W., to understand on what grounds. 

 The number of patients in hospital is remarkably small, and the as- 

 sistant quite capable of attending them." 



" It is my order, sir," replied the General, in that cold and obsti- 

 nate tone which shews all remonstrance to be hopeless. j )flf . i 



" Then, sir," said S., irritated by his supercilious manner, " I 

 shall apply to the commander- in- chief to do me justice." 



" You will do as you please, sir," was the contemptuous reply, 

 and Mr. S. immediately hastened to head- quarters. 



Here he laid his case before the commander-in- chief ; and after 

 clearly shewing that there was no necessity for his stay, coupled with 

 the fact that the order was not issued until a few hours before 

 marching, together with hints of the General's unaccountable aversion 

 towards himself, he succeeded in obtaining a written command to ac- 

 company the detachment. It was late at night when he entered General 

 W/s tent, and presented his credentials. " It is well, sir," said the 

 General, in his haughtiest manner, and throwing the paper on the 

 table. " It is well," replied S. firmly, as he left the tent to complete 

 his preparations for the morning. 



After a fatiguing march of four days, the troops reached their des- 

 tination. The artillery could not arrive for some days ; but it was 

 generally thought the place would be attempted by storm. Next 

 morning, S., in company with other idlers, went to get a look at the 

 fortifications. They advanced close to the outworks, and remained 

 for some time unmolested : at length a party of the garrison pointed 

 a wall-piece at them a hint which induced them to keep at a more 

 respectful distance, behind some broken ground in the rear. These 

 wall-pieces are guns fixed on a pivot, with a sight to them in fact, 

 regular fowling-pieces, except that, instead of snipe-shot, they carry 

 balls of a pound weight or more ; and no doubt S. and his friends 

 made their observations more coolly, from having a trifling hillock 



